The Philadelphia Eagles are facing a tough decision in the secondary heading into Week 14, and it centers on third-year safety Sydney Brown. After a rough outing in the Black Friday loss to the Chicago Bears, Brown’s spot in the starting lineup is no longer a lock. With rookie Andrew Mukuba still sidelined due to a leg fracture, Brown was thrust into a bigger role - and the results haven’t exactly inspired confidence.
Brown struggled in both the run and pass game against Chicago, most notably missing a wide-open tackle in space during the first half. That play, combined with shaky coverage throughout the game, has opened the door for a potential shakeup at safety. And the Eagles aren’t wasting time considering their options.
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio addressed the situation on Wednesday, acknowledging Brown’s performance as “up and down,” a phrase that could apply to much of the Eagles' defense lately. But Fangio also dropped a key detail: veteran safety Marcus Epps is officially in the mix to start on Monday night when the Eagles take on the Los Angeles Chargers.
Epps had his 21-day practice window opened this week after spending time on injured reserve due to an undisclosed injury suffered in Week 8 against the New York Giants. The Eagles have until December 23 to activate him, but the urgency suggests they’re hoping he can contribute sooner rather than later.
Before the injury, Epps wasn’t a major presence on defense - logging just 15 defensive snaps compared to 115 on special teams - but he was reportedly ahead of Brown on the depth chart. And that’s not just a nod to experience. Epps has started games in this league, including all 17 contests for Philly during the 2022 season.
Now, let’s be clear: Epps wasn’t exactly a lockdown safety in coverage that year. He allowed a 141.2 passer rating and gave up five touchdowns, numbers that don’t scream “solution” in the back end.
His Pro Football Focus coverage grade? A rough 44.7.
But where Epps did make his mark was in run support. He posted an 84.4 grade against the run - a strength the Eagles desperately need right now.
Against the Bears, Philadelphia got gashed on the ground, and Brown’s run defense didn’t help matters. He recorded just two stops on 43 run defense snaps and finished with a 52.7 grade in that department.
That’s not going to cut it, especially not against a Chargers team that could be getting rookie back Omarion Hampton back in the fold. Pair him with Kimani Vidal, who’s averaging 4.5 yards per carry, and it’s another physical test for a defense still licking its wounds from last week.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh loves to run the football, and if the Eagles don’t tighten things up, Monday night could turn into another long evening for the defense. That’s why Fangio and the coaching staff are seriously eyeing Epps - even if he’s not 100%, his physicality and experience could bring some much-needed stability.
The Eagles know they can’t afford to let the run game beat them again. If Epps is healthy enough to go and shows flashes of the player who helped anchor the 2022 defense, he could reclaim a starting role quickly. If he can’t, and Brown continues to struggle, the Eagles might find themselves scrambling for answers in a secondary that’s already been tested by injuries and inconsistent play.
This is a critical moment for the Eagles’ defense. With playoff positioning on the line and a physical Chargers offense up next, they need someone to step up at safety - whether it’s the veteran returning from injury or the young player trying to find his footing.